Sources tell TSN that the Philadelphia Flyers have signed Vancouver Canucks restricted free agent forward Ryan Kesler to an offer sheet. The deal would be worth $1.9 million for one season.

The Vancouver Canucks have the right to match this offer, however should they choose to walk away for financial reasons, the compensation paid to the Canucks for the Flyers manouever will be a 2nd round draft pick.

In 82 games with the Canucks last season, the 22-year-old forward tallied ten goals, 13 assists and 79 penalty minutes.

Wow. Bobby Clarke and his shady tactics. Yes it's perfectly within the rules, but there has been an unwritten rule amongst GM's that if you don't go after our RFA's that we won't go after yours. Kesler at $1.9M is a joke. Grossly overpaid.

Don't think we were offering him enough that makes it possible to get Carter now, any additional money that could have gone to the Carter fund was spent elsewhere, after signing Kes we were going to be pretty close to our internal cap anyway, so no, there isn't enough left.

It sucks, but it is what it is, Nonis should let him walk or else he loses future negotiating power. We can sign someone else or find another replacement internally, not as good but it's soothed a bit by the 2nd rounder, just make it count. On top of that, while BC gets a good asset, he still screws himself over a bit by landing a player at a price that will deny him assets elsewhere, and of course the lost 2nd round pick.

Or some combination thereof, if Schultz makes the team then Linden can centre the third line and Bulis can move down to take the 3rd RW position, we'll be pretty good for depth. This sucks but is not the end of the world.

Next year, though, provided it makes sense for us, we could make a few offer sheets here and there to Philly's RFA's, if we get them, great, if not, oh well, he can match and we can shrug...payback's a bitch.

Yea, a big WOW here. 1.9 for Kesler? I like the kid, but... wow. He mustsee something he really likes. Philly likes taking our youngsters eh? Umberger, now Kesler... Can we still trade his rights or is too late for that now?

What makes this most surprising is the fact that we keep hearing how philly was right at the cap before signing Gagne (Did they sign him yet? I missed it)

You know I like Kesler. It hink he could develop into a very strong third line, penalty killer leader type player. I'm not sure if he's top 6 material.

But $1.9 mil? Come on. No way he's worth that now or probably even for the next couple of years.

The Flyers can have him for that price IMO. Sucks that the only compensation is a second round pick (or whatever deal Nonis can make instead). But it is what it is.

What comes around goes around and you can bet Nonis will be chomping at the bit to return the favour. And many GMs will look at this in a fair bit of disgust and may just get do the same thing to Clarke. I don't think the environment has changed enough in the NHL for GMs to be cutthroat with each other. They will still be reliant on the trade market and not just drafting and free agent signing.

Last edited by tantalum on Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Badfish wrote:Yea, a big WOW here. 1.9 for Kesler? I like the kid, but... wow. He mustsee something he really likes. Philly likes taking our youngsters eh? Umberger, now Kesler... Can we still trade his rights or is too late for that now?

What makes this most surprising is the fact that we keep hearing how philly was right at the cap before signing Gagne (Did they sign him yet? I missed it)

BC must have a deal in the works is all I can guess.

Keith Primeau is making $3 million per year and his salary will likely be off the books due to long-term injury.